Easy Food for Busy Moms

With school right around the corner I have been trying to focus on foods I can prepare ahead for the week. If it's already made I greatly increase my chance for success. If a rough day comes around and there is nothing prepared chances are I am going to try my best to get something "low calorie" from a drive through. Which is basically a joke.

With that being said.... I LOVE carrots! I have trained myself to eat them plain...without ranch....or in a cake ;]. VICTORY!  I usually have about a cup a day and though I have learned to love the flavor, I think of them as beauty pills. Carrots contain carotenoids which give you a great skin tone.beautiful skin, smaller waist? SOLD. It's just as easy to throw a bag of these in your purse to munch on your way to class as it is a bag of chips. NO EXCUSES!

I had a great new find this week as well! The brand skinny girl started making snacks. After trying this one I am eager to try the rest. It's a cilantro jalapeno hummus, but to reduce calories further they added Greek yogurt for volume. I actually prefer the flavor. I use whole wheat pita chips for dipping. LOVE.

Over the weekend I also threw together my southwest pasta salad! This is a favorite in my household. I plan on having it for lunch all week and I am totally fine with that. I love preparing my lunches ahead of time because it makes lunch a no brainer healthy choice all week.

Click here for the recipe

I use the tyson grilled and ready chicken for the protein in this recipe. I highly recommend them for fellow busy mommys 

You know how you open the cupboards and there is nothing to eat so you get creative and make something like corn chips with melted shredded cheese on top and call it nachos? Yea well this is me detour from that mistake. I always, always keep these in the freezer. They are great for turning salad into a meal, making a wrap, brown rice bowls, pasta salads..... the list goes on. I have created a hundred meals with these as the centerpiece. In fact, maybe that will be a post one day.

I have also been creative about squeezing in extra workouts because for some reason L doesn't want to stay on my schedule ;]. I have 2 favorite fitness apps keeping me on track right now.

1.30 day push up challenge

2.Quick 4

The first is exactly what you think it is. The second is 8 exercises for 20 seconds with 10 second breaks for a total of 4 minutes. I have been trying squeeze these in 3 times a day as "extras". Both are available for free in the Apple app store.

Here's to yummy food and skinny buns.

Southwest Pasta Salad

This is a super easy and satisfying recipe that you can make ahead and enjoy for lunch all week. Preparing meals ahead of time helps you stay on track!

What you'll need:
1 cup salsa
1/4 cup mayonnaise with olive oil
1 tbs siracha
1 cup corn
1 cup black beans
3 cups whole foods organic whole grain pasta
2 cups southwest tyson grilled and ready chicken strips
optional for topping: cilantro, avacado, hot sauce or pico

1. prepare pasta according to box.
2. heat pan to medium heat and cook already prepared chicken until it is heated all the way through. I like to add a little extra cumin to mine! let cool to room temperature.
3. Whisk together salsa, Siracha and mayo
4.mix pasta and chicken into the salsa dressing.
5.fold in corn and black beans.
6. Chill and serve!
200 Calories per cup

* You can also use boneless skinless chicken breast just add chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste while cooking then cut into bite size pieces

*I used shells but bow tie or penne is a great choice as well!

Hot breakfast, cold

Starting my Monday off right! Lacey took a morning nap and I made a breakfast that wasn't blended while crossing off some items on the to-do list.

let's see,

bfast is a scramble of 2 egg whites and 1 whole egg

a little chopped onion, tomato and green bell pepper

seasoned with salt, pepper and cumin

on a whole wheat tortilla

topped with salsa

with a side of thinly sliced apple 

and

my obsession---Iced vanilla coffee

what's in my coffee?

brewed some Italian roast when I first woke up

let it cool

poured over a glass of ice

with a splash of almond milk and torani sugar-free vanilla syrup

All of that ^ 250 calories and 18 grams of protein

Don't worry, my life isn't better than yours. I didn't actually get to sit and eat my breakfast in peace. Little one woke up in tears right before I got the chance. I'm afraid I will be eating hot breakfast cold for the next couple years.

just kidding it is. Baby smiles.

4%

Berries and Greens Smoothie

I got this recipe idea from my best friend. Your greens, antioxidants and omega 3's in a glass. Love it.

1/2 cup kale
1/2 cup spinach
1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 cup raspberries
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tsp honey
1 tbs flax

Blend until liquid.

200 calories

Postpartum Gymtimidation

I started working out again 1 month postpartum which is a week ago. I know, I know you are supposed to wait until 6 weeks PP but I had a beautiful natural birth..didn't even tear, TMI. I healed beautifully. Felt like a million bucks literally a minute after it was over. I feel ready and I am listening to my body.

So far I have only worked out at the tiny, private gym in my town home community. Today my husband is home early. He's a Marine and was gone on a field op leaving me home for the first night alone with our little one so I took some well deserved me time and went to the "big girl gym".

My bae, she's perfection

I did this with great anxiety. Last time I did my thang at a gym I was in good shape! I was comfortable with my body, my weight and abilities. This time I was self conscious. REALLY self conscious. Something I am sure most new moms can relate to.  I have been 60 lbs overweight for a year when I was a teen and when I lost that weight I steered CLEAR from a gym until I lost the first 30. I refuse to do that now. 

After putting on my big girl panties and going...I still felt uncomfortable, even a little afraid. I'm flabby. My belly sticks out in a way it hasn't before, my workout pants are a large now not a small,  my fitness level is low in comparison to pre-pregnancy and I'm praying "dear lord don't let me leak!". My, have things changed LOL!  I was so certain that everyone was looking at me passing their judgements. But, here's the thing.

1. I'm giving people too much credit, most are too self centered to notice someone else.

2. I owe an explanation to no one!! I have no problem being this way with anything else in my life. Why apologize for my body?

3. I really am beautiful.. My body brought life into this world. Like, can you grasp how amazing that is?!?! My body STILL sustains her life as I nurse her and care for her day in and day out. ( Yep. I did it! I kept her alive haha ;] ) My now flabby stomach was the home of a beautiful healthy little girl.

^THIS WAS INSIDE MY BODY

What  I am trying to say is....I have NOTHING to be ashamed of.

 I am unapologetically me!

SO I DID WORK. I want to get fit for me, For the way I'll feel and look. I want to shed my 25 lbs of pregnancy weight (and maybe then some) and be energetic and strong. LETS DO THIS.

Beyonce video because I'm moto like that

Fluffy Fruit Dip

Although I love to find organic locally grown fruit at its ripe perfection to enjoy as a dessert, if you're looking for a way to make your fruit special, get the family to eat their daily portion or enjoy your fruit as a dessert try your hand at this delicious fluffy dip. 25  calories a tbs!

1 tub light cool whip

1 box instant sugar free vanilla pudding

1 32 oz container vanilla yogurt

1. blend vanilla pudding powder into yogurt

2. fold yogurt mixture into coolwhip

3. Enjoy!

Pink Drink

Celebrate your successes without killing your diet. Love this girly adult beverage.

2 parts Skinnygirl Moscato

1 part diet sprite

5 frozen raspberries

Energy Bites

Everything you need in a tasty bite! Throw a few in a zip lock baggie and put em' on the diaper bag so that you don't reach for something unhealthy while you're out!

2 cups quick oats

1/2 cup chocolate chips

2/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tbs of either chia, flax or hemp seed

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

And here’s how to put them together:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, chocolate chips, and coconut.

2. Add the peanut butter, honey, vanilla, salt. Mix well until evenly combined.

3. Chill mixture in the refrigerator for an hour, then roll out balls about an inch in diameter.

4. Store in an airtight container.

Chocolate Peanut Butter MRS

What I mean to say is I refuse to diet without milkshakes...

in other words I refuse to diet.

This is by far my favorite original MRS (meal replacement shake). It's a real treat. SERIOUSLY, SERIOUSLY taste like a milkshake. It will cure your sweet tooth in 310 calories and energize you with 16 grams of protein. 

If you have an addiction to sweets (like moi) you may want to stay away until you can break the cycle. This recipe can be a trigger for a sweet tooth in the beginning of a journey, but it is the most satisfying treat when you are trying to sustain your healthy lifestyle.

Choco PB meal replacement shake

1 1/2 cup ice

1/2 cup 2% or almond milk

1/2 scoop whey vanilla protein powder

1 1/2 tbs natural peanut butter

1 tbs coco powder

1 tsp sugar free vanilla pudding dry mix

3 packets stevia 

310 Calories

16 grams of protein


It's important to measure it out the first few times you make this sinful little sip. That peanut butter will kill ya if you eyeball 2 or 3 tablespoons instead of 1. Of course once you get the hang of it you can eyeball it and tailor it to your liking. I am all about drinkable nutrients as a mommy on the go I love to throw it all in the blender and poor it into a togo cup!